Crisis in HP BJP not
overShimla, February 22
The delayed inclusion of some Shanta loyalists in the state executive and other important panels of the party is likely to provide only a temporary reprieve to Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister. The leadership will have to remove some other irritants which have soured his relationship with dissidents over the past two months.

Ex-minister Parashar
deadShimla, February 22
Prof Narain Chand Parashar, a veteran parliamentarian and former Education Minister, died of a massive cardiac arrest at a private hospital in New Delhi last evening. He was 66. Mr Parashar was cremated in his native town of Nadaun in the Hamirpur district this afternoon. He leaves behind his wife, two daughters and two sons.

Board to conduct class XI
examDharamsala, February 22
In its endeavour to provide quality education and improve the performance of students of the plus two class the Himachal Board of School Education will directly conduct the class XI examination, this
year.

Pact for Allain Dhungan project signedShimla, February 22
An agreement for the execution of the 192 mw Allain Dhungan hydroelectric project was signed today between the Himachal Pradesh Government and Rajasthan Spinning and Weaving Mills Limited.

Tibetans prepare to celebrate new
yearDharmsala, February 22
There is an air of festivity and celebration as McLeodganj, also called “Little Lhasa” is all decked up for the Losar (Tibetan New Year), falling on February 24, this year.

Danoi bridge damagedNahan, February 22
Danoi bridge, the only link between district headquarters here and 40 panchayats of Sangrah and Shillai tehsils, has been damaged after it was hit by heavy rocks that had fallen from upper side of the hill where Danoi-Khud Dravil road is being constructed.

Rs 3.4 cr plan for green belt in SolanSolan, February 22
The Divisional Office of the state Forest Department here has prepared a Rs 3.44-crore plan for the creation of a green belt in Solan town and another Rs 1.13-crore project for the industrial and ‘mined out’ areas of this and adjoining Sirmaur district.

Wood still main heating fuelLAHAUL VALLEY:
Himachal, which literally means land of snowy mountains, is a small world in itself. The steep mountain slopes are covered with coniferous forests, meadows, pastures and terraces. The valleys lying amidst these mountain ranges contain streams meandering through small villages.

Laying of roads to be top priority: CMKulu, February 22
The Himachal Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, has said the state government is committed to the development of the far-flung and backward areas.

Shimla set to
lose on tourism frontShimla, February 22
Himachal Pradesh may suffer badly on the tourism front with the tour operators of Gujarat deciding to cancel Shimla as a tourist destination because of the alleged harassment of tourists by the police and other authorities here.

Campaign against misuse of ‘Press’Palampur, February 22
The police have launched a special campaign to check the misuse of
word “Press” in Kangra district. Under this campaign, the police had challaned half a dozen vehicles in the district in the past two days bearing the word “Press” on their windscreen without permission from the state government.

Dhumal takes part
in ‘shobha yatra’Mandi, February 22
Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal today offered prayers to Madho Rai (Lord Vishnu) in keeping with the centuries old tradition and participated in a “shobha yatra”.

Sharma is Nahan
MC chiefNahan, February 22
Mr Sanjeev Sharma was today administered the oath of office as the president of the local-municipal council by Mr Vikash Labroo Additional District Magistrate. He is the 14th President to assume this office since 1953.

Shimla, February 22
The delayed inclusion of some Shanta loyalists in the state executive and other important panels of the party is likely to provide only a temporary reprieve to Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister. The leadership will have to remove some other irritants which have soured his relationship with dissidents over the past two months.

In fact, the party had made a firm commitment to restore factional balance in the state executive, the disciplinary committee and the pradesh election committee by including some Shanta loyalists to buy peace with the dissidents who had raised a banner of revolt against Mr Dhumal in November last.

However, it went into a deep slumber after the crisis was resolved and showed no urgency in fulfilling the promises made to the dissidents. The fire-fighting machinery swung into action only when it became evident that the dissidents camp was planning to launch a fresh offensive. Not only the party president, Mr Jaikrishan Sharma, failed to issue the letter regarding inclusion of four dissidents in the state executive regarding which a decision had been taken by the party almost a month ago.

In another significant decision Mr Krishan Kapoor was made member of the disciplinary committee and Mr Dulo Ram of the all important state election committee. However, some important names submitted by dissidents like Mr Jagat Singh Negi, Mr Narinder Thakur and Mr Mohinder Sofat were ignored. The case of Mr Sofat could not be considered on the ground that an inquiry against him was already pending with him. But more than Mr Sofat’s exclusion, the inclusion of his rival, Mr Jethi is likely to irk the dissidents. Mr Negi and Mr Thakur could not be given a place because it could have created problems for the party in their respective districts.

The party president also constituted four committees to conduct inquiries against the leaders who were suspended recently. The inquiry against Mr Kamal Padha will be conducted by a three-member committee headed by Mr Suresh Bharadwaj and having Mr Dulo Ram and Mr Rakesh Pathania as members.

This step will go a long way in assuaging the feelings of leaders who felt that the party president had taken action against them in haste and without following the due procedure.

There have been some other
developments over the past two months which have given a serious blow to confidence building measures
initiated by Mr Dhumal to win over the dissidents over the past two months. The dissidents have a grouse that the leaders of the rival faction continue to interfere in their constituencies despite categorical assurance given by Mr Dhumal in this respect. The worst came during the recent panchayat poll when rivals joined hand with the Congress to prevent the supporters of dissidents from capturing key posts.

The registration of an FIR against the three dissident leaders on the complaint of a Congress legislator has only made things worse as the dissidents see a conspiracy by rivals in the party behind the move. The thing which has irked the dissidents most is the latest attempt of the ruling camp to wean away Mr Des Raj by offering him ministership. Such happenings will only widen the gulf between the two factions, the dissidents feel.

Shimla, February 22
Prof Narain Chand Parashar, a veteran parliamentarian and former Education Minister, died of a massive cardiac arrest at a private hospital in New Delhi last evening. He was 66. Mr Parashar was cremated in his native town of Nadaun in the Hamirpur district this afternoon. He leaves behind his wife, two daughters and two sons.

Professor Parashar was a Congress stalwart and had remained member of the Lok Sabha from Hamirpur for several terms. He was also an MLA in the last assembly when he was Education Minister in the Cabinet of Mr Virbhadra Singh.

A condolence meeting was held in the PCC office this morning under the chairmanship of Mrs Vidya Stokes in which grief was expressed over his death. Mrs Stokes, alongwith Thakur Ram Lal, a former Chief Minister, also participated in the cremation of Professor Parashar.

Professor Parashar was a scholar and had studied several languages, including Chinese, Japanese, Bengali, Tamil and Punjabi. He was a member of the national committee on development of Lumbini project since 1983 and International Buddhist Brotherhood Association.

Our Correspondent adds: Prof Parashar was a lover of Pahari language and was instrumental in promoting this language in the state and even in the official documents of the state government.

Shops and other commercial establishments in various parts of the district, especially in Nadaun town, remained closed today as a mark of respect to the departing leader.

The sad news of demise of Professor Parashar was received with shock all over the state in general and Hamirpur district in particular. Leaders of various political parties and cultural organisations have mourned his death and described him as a great leader and grassroot worker.

Mortal remains of Professor Parashar were consigned to flames at a crematorium on the banks of Maan Khad near his native village Sera this afternoon. Mr Gian Sagar Parashar, eldest son of the deceased, lit the pyre. Buddhist monks chanted mantras on this occasion for peace of the departed soul.

Earlier a contingent of Himachal Pradesh police reversed their arms and fired a volley of bullets in air to pay their last respects to the departing leader.

Mr Ishwar Dass Dhiman, Education Minister and Mr Ramesh Dhwala, Irrigation-cum-Public Health Minister and Mr Babu Ram Mandyal, local MLA, represented the HP Government on this occasion. The Congress side was represented by the state Congress chief Mrs Vidya Stokes, former Chief Minister, Mr Ram Lal Thakur, Mr Gian Chand Totu, Mr Chander Kumar and former HP Congress chief, Mr Sat Mahajan among others. They all laid wreaths on the body of the departing leader.

Leaders of various political parties and other cultural organisations have mourned the death of Professor Parashar. They have described him a true son of soil who always fought for the cause of downtrodden sections of society. Prominent among those who have mourned the death of Professor Parashar included the Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, the former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh and Mrs Vidya Stokes, the HP Congress chief.

The Congress Legislative Party leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh, has expressed grief over the death of Mr Parashar.

Himachal has lost a sincere and dedicated leader who was specially devoted to welfare of backward and weaker sections, he said.

Dharamsala, February 22
In its endeavour to provide quality education and improve the performance of students of the plus two class the Himachal Board of School Education will directly conduct the class XI examination, this
year.

Addressing a press conference here today, the Chairman of the board, Dr C.L. Gupta, said this year along with examinations for class VIII and class X, plus one will also be a board exam. The decision, widely appreciated by parents and teachers, is aimed at putting an end to indiscipline and non-serious attitude of the fresh matriculates.

“Not only had class XI become redundant, it was also adversely affecting the pass percentage of the plus two,” said Dr Gupta. He informed that after holding deliberations with teachers, this year the board would be conducting examination for class XI, with the hope that it would improve the plus two results, which stood at a mere 40 per
cent.

Dr Gupta said to increase the number of teaching days, the calendar of school holidays will be changed. “We intend to send a proposal to the government that there should be holidays for one month after the final examination in April and the rest of 22-day holidays around Dasehra time,” he
stated.

The Chairman said that from now on the board would regulate admission to all classes. “It is the board which will have a final say in admission, syllabi and examinations for classes VIII, X, XI and XII,” he
informed.

The board had decided to introduce the multiple set of questions to put a check on copying during examinations from 2002. All efforts were being made to curb copying during examinations and for this flying squads of the board, district education and the administrations would visit various
centres.

Shimla, February 22
An agreement for the execution of the 192 mw Allain Dhungan hydroelectric project was signed today between the Himachal Pradesh Government and Rajasthan Spinning and Weaving Mills Limited.

The agreement was signed by Mr Harsh Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Chairman, HPSEB, on behalf of the state government and Mr Ravi Jhunjhunwala, Chairman, Bhilwara group, in the presence of Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister.

The Himachal Pradesh Government had earlier signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in August, 1998, for the detailed survey and investigation and
implementation of the project.

The company has been given 36 months for obtaining various clearances and completing the project in 145 months from the date of signing of this agreement. The clearance from the Forest and Environment Departments has been accorded by the Centre and the techno-economic clearance for the project is at an advanced stage.

On completion, the project will generate 674 million units annually in an 90 per cent dependable year. The income to the Himachal Government from which, on account of free power alone, will amount to Rs 32 crore per year during the first 12 years of its operation and Rs 60 crore per annum for the remaining 28 years of the agreement period. In addition, the project will also generate direct and indirect employment for residents of the state.

All skilled and unskilled and other non-executives as may be required for the implementation of the project after deployment of surplus workers of the company from other units located in Himachal will be recruited through central employment cell.

Later, addressing a public meeting at Chahki village in Mandi district after daylighting the tunnel of the 86 mw Malana hydel project, Mr Dhumal said that Himachal Pradesh was poised to become the power state of the country soon. It had paved the way for generating additional 10,000 mw of power by 2010, out of which work on projects having generation capacity of 6100 mw had been taken in hand, which was a record in itself, he claimed.

Mr Dhumal said that the decision of the Central Government to reverse thermal-hydel power generation ratio from 75:25 to 60:40 would give a boost to hydel power generation in the country and benefit Himachal Pradesh in harnessing its vast hydel potential.

The Centre had assured him help in exploiting the hydel potential of the state.

Bids for execution of nine more hydel projects would soon be invited as all formalities in respect of these had almost been completed.

Mr Dhumal said that the Malana hydel project in the private sector, which was likely to be completed in less than three years, would be a model project for the country.

Dharmsala, February 22
There is an air of festivity and celebration as McLeodganj, also called “Little Lhasa” is all decked up for the Losar (Tibetan New Year), falling on February 24, this year.

Even though living in-exile, Tibetans start making preparations for Losar much in advance, making the festivities very lavish, along with special prayers to ward off spints for the well being of the family.

The celebration of Losar can be traced back to pre-Buddhist period in Tibet. During that time, when Tibetans practiced the Bon religion, every winter a spiritual ceremony was held, in which people offered large quantities of incense to appease local spirits, deities and protectors. This religious festival later evolved into an annual Buddhist festival, which is believed to have originated during the reign of Pude Gungyal, the ninth King of Tibet.

The festival is said to have begun when an old woman, named Belma, introduced the measurement of time based on the phases of moon. Historically there are three major traditions of determining when the new year fell. Some claim it is the 11th month, others 12th still others say it is the first month.

Those who say it is the 11th month follow the tradition of Konjo, the Chinese Princess who married King Songtsen Gampo. According to the second tradition Losar is celebrated on the first day of the 12th month, corresponding to the farmer’s Losar. Celebrated in China, since the reign of King Trisong Doutsan in Tibet.

Finally, according to the system of the 13th century Lama Progon Cheogyal Phagpa, the first day of the first month of the calendar year is counted as the beginning of each year. Earlier in Tibet, Losar was celebrated in accordance with the different harvest seasons, but gradually, it was on the same day that festivities were held.

Apart from the major cleaning up, fresh roasted barley flour, groma (sweet potatoes), bras sil (sweet rice), lo-phud (sprout of barley or wheat, symbolising the birth of the new year, chang (barley beer), tea, butter, sheep head, butter lamps, fried biscuits and fruits and sweets is made on the occasion of the Losar.

On the first day, the housewife serves boiled chang (porridge) to the family members and perform the puja. The first day of the Losar is called the Lama Losar. The second day is called the King’s Losar.

Early morning prayers are held and before dinner people perform “throwing our evil spirits. People visit each other house to greet New Year. Children are given gifts by relatives and friends.

Nahan, February 22
Danoi bridge, the only link between district headquarters here and 40 panchayats of Sangrah and Shillai tehsils, has been damaged after it was hit by heavy rocks that had fallen from upper side of the hill where Danoi-Khud Dravil road is being constructed.

According to reports, the Sangrah side of the steel bridge has been damaged. One main support was found broken and many other supports crippled and badly damaged. The bridge heavily vibrates when heavy vehicles cross over it. According to reports, heavily loaded trucks crossing over it have further increased the percentage of damage.

This steel bridge over Danoi-Khud in Sangrah tehsil was constructed in 1972. The Executive Engineer Sangrah has written to the Station House Officer Renuka police station to immediately stop the heavily loaded trucks from crossing over the bridge till it is satisfactorily repaired. But it is learnt that all kinds of vehicles crossing over the bridge have been complicating the situation.

The bridge site has been inspected by the superintending engineer, mechanical engineer, and executive engineer, Sangrah, and repair work initiated for which expert private engineer contractors have been called.

Engineer experts say if heavy vehicles were not immediately stopped from crossing over the bridge, the situation may go beyond limits of repairing and there will be no other alternative but to construct a new bridge which may take years to complete and would cause painful inconvenience to residents of the area who would be cut off from the rest of the state.

Solan, February 22
The Divisional Office of the state Forest Department here has prepared a Rs 3.44-crore plan for the creation of a green belt in Solan town and another Rs 1.13-crore project for the industrial and ‘mined out’ areas of this and adjoining Sirmaur district.

Mr S.K. Sharma, Divisional Forest Officer, Solan, told The Tribune that the spurt in development activities; juxtaposition of industrial and residential areas in Parwanoo, Baddi-Barotiwala and large-scale mining activities had been taking a heavy toll of the area’s green cover. These factors had begun causing damage to flora and fauna and had increased water and air pollution, prompting his department to take remedial measures.

He said that 25,800 new saplings and another 47,000 in the industrial belts would be planted and maintained under the proposed green belt plans. Emphasis would be laid on planting only saplings of trees like ‘reetha, amla, wild pomegranate and silver oaks, that are known to thrive in the area. A sum of rs 82.82 lakh had been earmarked for this purpose.

Emphasis would be given to the protection of both existing and new trees by fencing them. A sum of Rs 21.5 lakh would be set aside for this component of the plan.

Maximum thrust, however, would be given to improving faulty drainage system, soil conservation, landscaping and general beautification of the town. A sum of Rs 1.55 crore has been allocated for this purpose.

Other important components of the proposed plans would be creation of adequate public awareness about the beneficial role of trees in urban areas and dissemination of information concerning the upkeep of urban trees.

Mr Sharma said that a novel feature of the plan would be the active involvement of the citizens. This would be achieved by constituting ward-wise local area development societies. These bodies would be expected to help prevent illegal felling of urban trees as also the preservation of new plantations.

“The mixed growth of industrial areas along with residential areas had emerged as a major problem from the environmental point of view. Though most of the industrial units had adopted pollution-control measures, yet the cumulative effect of emissions from those had resulted in degradation of environmental quality for those residing in such areas.”

“It has been found that the ambient air quality of some of the industrial areas is not good and the water sources are also getting polluted due to the discharge of pollutants.

LAHAUL VALLEY:
Himachal, which literally means land of snowy mountains, is a small world in itself. The steep mountain slopes are covered with coniferous forests, meadows, pastures and terraces. The valleys lying amidst these mountain ranges contain streams meandering through small villages.

Areas, which have the most hostile climate are Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. The Lahaul valley lies to the north of the Pir Panjal and Himalayan ranges. It has the Chandra and Bhaga rivers till Tindi and the Chenab from Tindi to Udaypur, downstream of the Pangi valley.

The Spiti valley is situated between the Himalayan and Zanskar ranges, whose chief town is Kaza. Mountains surround Lahaul-Spiti with elevations ranging from 3000 to 6500 metres. These two valleys get heavy snow and have severe winters.

Much progress has been made in various fields by Himachal Pradesh over the years. But one aspect that has not changed is the system of heating in these alpine areas. Even today, in the age of computers and supersonic airways, people still depend on wood for heating houses.

Heating by traditional means is a very costly affair, as the wood has to be carried from the far-flung areas to the tribal belts. Sometimes it becomes very tedious for the H.P. State Forest Corporation, which has been entrusted with the herculean task of carrying fuelwood to tribal areas.

According to Mr D.P. Sinha, Director of the Forest Corporation (North Zone), the corporation has completed sending fuelwood to Lahaul much before winter in a planned manner to avoid gaps in supply.

Similarly, the supply to Spiti and Kinnaur has also been made despite severe constraints caused by disruption of road traffic.

Kulu, February 22
The Himachal Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, has said the state government is committed to the development of the far-flung and backward areas.

He was addressing a rural gathering after laying the foundation stone of 50 metre span Ballu ra Ghera bridge on Parvati river in Kulu district yesterday. To be constructed at a cost of about Rs 68 lakh, the bridge, on completion, would benefit residents of Bharen, Chhamen, Pini on the right bank of the river. The Chief Minister directed the Public Works Department to complete the bridge within two years and added that endeavour of the government would be to construct road to the last village of the right bank of the river connecting the bridge simultaneously.

Mr Dhumal said efforts would be made to link every village of the district by road in next three years.

He said the development of infrastructure had also been given special attention. The Chief Minister announced Rs 2 lakh for the construction of a road to Phagu.

Mr Mehashwar Singh, MP urged people to give their land voluntarily for the construction of roads wherever required. He announced Rs 1 lakh out of Sansad Nidhi for the construction of a road up to Phagu.

Shimla, February 22
Himachal Pradesh may suffer badly on the tourism front with the tour operators of Gujarat deciding to cancel Shimla as a tourist destination because of the alleged harassment of tourists by the police and other authorities here.

In a statement, Mr Mohinder K. Sethi, president of the Himachal Pradesh Hotels and Restaurants Association, said there was fear of a drastic fall in the tourist influx from Gujarat as the Gujarat Railway Tour Organisers Association, which brought tourist groups here, had decided not to send tourists here.

The Gujarat association has complained that the ordeal of tourists begins on entering Shimla as they are fleeced without help from any quarter. Be it parking of vehicle, sight — seeing.

Mr Seth said the tourism industry here was heading for bad days as two years ago tourist groups visiting Shimla used to come for at least three days, the duration was now cut to two days because of shortage of sight-seeing places. The occupancy in hotels had fallen by about 45 per cent.

Palampur, February 22
The police have launched a special campaign to check the misuse of
word “Press” in Kangra district. Under this campaign, the police had challaned half a dozen vehicles in the district in the past two days bearing the word “Press” on their windscreen without permission from the state government. A Deputy Superintendent of Police told mediapersons here today that there were over 100 vehicles in the district bearing the word ‘press’ on their vehicles illegally. He said the state government had issued a necessary notification to this effect and provided a list of accredited press reporters to all district police chiefs.

The DSP said the police had received complaints earlier also that a number of vehicle owners had been misusing the name of “Press” and using their vehicles for illegal purposes such as carrying goods without paying taxes, using private vehicles for carrying passengers and schoolchildren.

Nahan, February 22
Mr Sanjeev Sharma was today administered the oath of office as the president of the local-municipal council by Mr Vikash Labroo Additional District Magistrate. He is the 14th President to assume this office since 1953. Mr Surender Saini vice-president, and other councillors also took the oath of office. Ms Shyama Sharma vice-chairperson, State Planning Board, was present on the occasion.

Later, Mr Sharma said water bodies of the town would be preserved and improved by the council.